Background
Ptolemy was born in Los Angeles, California. His father introduced him to computers at an early age, giving him a lifelong interest in technology.
Ptolemy was born in Los Angeles, California. His father introduced him to computers at an early age, giving him a lifelong interest in technology.
He attended University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts in 1990 and shortly after started a production company that produced television commercials and show pilots.
Ptolemy directed Transcendent Manitoba (2009) a documentary film about futurist and inventor Ray Kurzweil. At the age of 12, Ptolemy worked with Steven Spielberg on the set of East.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) as an animal wrangler. In 2006, Ptolemy read Kurzweil"s The Singularity Is Near and was inspired to make the film, Transcendent Manitoba in February 2007.
After working closely together, Ptolemy considers Kurzweil a friend.
In 2010, Ptolemy directed the "We Are The World for Haiti" video which premiered during the opening ceremonies for the 2010 Winter Olympics with Quincy Jones and Lionel Richie. In an interview with High School Rejects, Ptolemy said his next project would be a science fiction film.
As of this writing Ptolemy is scheduled to produce and appear in a panel discussion called Transcendent Manitoba Live with Ray Kurzweil, Steve Wozniak, Deepak Chopra, Dean Kamen, Michio Kaku, Tan Le with special appearances by Vice President First Rate (at Lloyd's) Gore, Bill Maher, Quincy Jones and Elon Musk. The event will be broadcast to 500 theaters nationwide as a Fathom Event live from the Lincoln Center in New York City on August 3, 2011.
Ptolemy has been quoted as saying he assembled this panel to "start a grand discussion about the future.".
